Canticle Blue

64. Galaxy

Those who were thought to be gone forever intended to be so.
—Grahmen Ravi

Although those on the Crisopa were waiting anxiously for some kind of response, the sudden resumption of the text signal startled everyone. The question they sent had seemed applicable to their situation, even though it normally related to the way the Per'sa faced death. It was:

Is it intended that we should face such a great unknown...?

And the answer they received was:

The unknown does not hide

Added to that was a puzzling, yet straightforward message:

"Greetings from Shoriel. I am Amdahl Erenn. We are sending food and supplies. They will arrive in approximately seven hours in an automated ship. We will also be bringing a small group of people, including myself. But it will take us five days to reach you. I would very much like to keep this channel open, in order to get acquainted. We will be available to communicate with you at all times."

The entire message had been in the Per'sa language and had not been difficult to translate. A resounding cheer went up from the ship's cafeteria. So many people were patting Grahmen Ravi on the back that he was buffeted in every direction.

Maire quickly found her father and asked, "Dad, what is Shoriel?"

He teased, "Even Ip might not know the answer to that."

Ip was floating in the air between them and held her palms upward (But she did
know the meaning of the word)

"It sounds like a place, rather than a person," Havilan continued. "But, in the Per'sa language, the word would mean, 'God is here also.'"

The intercom in the cafeteria abruptly came to life again, "Crisopa bridge here. Cian, one of your students is sending a video feed from one of our imagers. I can patch it to your monitors if you want, or point the ship in that direction and put it on the V-sky. But I think you'll really want to see it."

"Cian to bridge. The consensus down here is for the V-sky. We'll be joining you shortly."

"Acknowledged, Cian. The video will be recorded. Please let everyone know that I'll be turning the ship and resuming our original course, with light acceleration. We will dim the interior lights as soon as you get here."

As everyone settled into their seats, the V-sky quickly cleared to reveal a glowing lavender sphere in the distance. It was quickly surrounded by what appeared to be an elliptical disk of the same color.

Leaning over in her seat, Maire Meid touched her mother's shoulder and whispered excitedly, "Look, mom, it's spinning!"

As they continued to watch, wisps of light began to extend from many points along the perimeter of the ellipse, which resolved into the spiral arms of what appeared to be an elliptical galaxy. It was, too close, and too colorful to be an actual galaxy. But, at least for the time being, the Crisopa crew was too fascinated to consider such discrepancies. When the galaxy had fully formed, three brilliant, fast-moving points of light suddenly emerged from its glowing center, turned gracefully, and accelerated in their direction. As the galaxy faded to an afterglow, one of the lights quickly outdistanced the others. As it came, it displayed repeating waves and patterns of shimmering blue light. Its color and characteristics were unmistakable. It was Canticle Blue.

At length, Elyse broke the silence. "So, I guess tonight we dream first and then sleep."

Cian added, "And somehow we fit a team meeting in between."